A PLASTIC FREE SEA

Victorians treasure our beautiful bay and beaches, but more and more plastic pollution chokes the waterways, clogging our marine ecosystems. It kills over a million penguins, turtles and fish each year. It never goes away. We must act now.

LET’S END PLASTIC POLLUTION

WHY? – Plastic chokes the oceans and everything that lives in them.

HOW? – Stop the problem before it starts and arrest the flow of plastics out to sea.

Moving towards a Plastic Free Sea

A Ban on Microbeads

Microbeads are the tiny plastic beads commonly found in household products such as facial scrubs and cleansers, toothpaste and laundry detergents. They never break down and contribute to the 34.9 billion pieces of micro plastic in Australia’s Waters. A voluntary ban, like the one the federal government wants, won’t be effective. We are fighting for an actual ban on microbeads from cosmetics and household detergents.

A Ban on Plastic Bags

Nearly all marine life including half the worlds turtles and almost all sea birds have ingested plastic waste. Often this waste is plastic shopping bags. Even biodegradable plastics just turn in to smaller pieces of plastic, releasing dangerous chemicals as they break apart. We must stop this problem at its source by banning all plastic bags across Victoria.

A Container Deposit Scheme

A container deposit scheme like those in South Australia and the Northern Territory means Victorians will get 10c back for every bottle they recycle. This will take the pressure off kerbside recycling, which local councils currently need to pay for, and also provide valuable income streams for community groups and individuals — as well as cutting down on the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans.

The Greens will keep working together to stop the flow of plastics out to sea. A couple of small changes to how we do things will make a lasting difference to marine life and ultimately the oceans of the world. That’s why I‘ve committed to free the seas from marine plastics.

-- Nina Springle MP

The Benefits to Victoria

The Economy

Without concrete action thousands of jobs in fisheries and tourism will suffer untold damage. Imagine a Victoria where Phillip Island is devoid of penguins, where the beaches of the Great Ocean Road have no fish. These industries are so important to our state and this damage will affect us all.

The Environment

Victoria’s coastline is magnificent and must be preserved for future generations to enjoy, along with the thousands of species threatened by plastic pollution both in the oceans and on land.

Reducing our plastic consumption and increasing recycling rates will also significantly lower our state’s carbon emissions and will help to tackle the threat of climate change.

Our Community

A healthy community is made up of a balance of sustainable environmental, economic and social values. A liveable Victoria depends on a clean environment. Clear streets, waterways and parks mean happier Victorians and safer spaces for people to work and play. Healthy ecosystems support healthier people and help local industries thrive.

To the Ministers for Environment, Climate Change and Water,

I strongly support the protection of our precious natural oceans and coastline. We need to protect our oceans and prevent plastic entering the food chain and harming us all.

I call on the Victorian government to:

Recognise the serious threat marine plastic pollution presents to the environment and community of Victoria.

Support measures to reduce plastic pollution such as a ban on plastic bags, a ban on microbeads in cosmetic products, and a container deposit scheme to catch plastic waste before it hits the ground.

Ensure that action to prevent plastic pollution becomes and remains a top priority for the government of Victoria.